Reloading 223 on a turret - how do you handle powder?

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goldpelican

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Been happily chugging away loading 9mm (and now 38 Special) for about 18 months with my Lee Classic Turret - looking at expanding to doing 223 as well for use in the AR - so not looking for match grade loads.

How do you handle powder dispensing for such a task? I have the Lee Pro Auto Disk dispenser - would that be fine to use with ball powders, or should I bite the bullet and get something like the RCBS Chargemaster Lite which will allow me to measure extruded powders more accurately (which is something I would use in the future for 308 precision loading when I start loading for that caliber) but require a much slower powder step.

Just strikes me that an electronic dispenser would possibly slow things right down and counter the production rate benefits of using a turret press for reloading for what essentially is blasting ammo that just needs to be safe, not match grade.
 
I load 223rem for a bolt gun on a lee classic turret and here is what I do. I use the lee perfect powder measure with stick powder and I usually don't have an issue with it but sometimes it will throw a tenth of a grain or two light or high. I purchased a lee 223rem powder through die and installed it on the turret and got a lee funnel that sits in the top of the die and take a 45-70 case and throw the charge into that from the lee perfect measure and into the funnel and then rotate to bullet seat die. it sounds like a lot but its fine. just check every 6th-10th one on a scale and you should be okay. Now if close to max charge i trickle everything.

I tried H335 in a lee auto drum and couldn't get consistent readings so quit using it but its fine for 9mm. I guess it just didn't like h335.

for the 308 buy a trickler and powder thrower and throw close or on the money to the charge you want and then trickle up to it while on the scale. i use a digital scale so its a bit easier.
 
Think I've answered my own question - will try H335 or another ball power with the double auto disk kit.
 
I currently load mine by hand then use the Turret to seat the bullets
Since I'm starting to shoot more, I'm like you and going to start taking more advantage of the Turret press.
From what I've seen, the dispenser you have seems to be the best option. I've not seen any pattern of posts on which powders work best. So I'm looking forward to what others say.
 
Before I got the Lee autodrum I used the double disk kit.
TAC, BLC(2), H336 and 8208XBR all metered well with the double disk kit.
I like TAC best BLC(2) is a close second and the other two are tied for 3rd.
The Lee Autodrum isn't that much and works well on the turret and can be used for pistol as well.
 
Im looking at replacing my Lee Perfect, with an Autodrum. I have the Disk on my loadmaster, and the Perfect on my bench. Ive found the perfect to be a little more accurate with any of the stick powders than the Disk, but still the im perfectly comfortable with using the Disk for any of my handloads....well besides my .45 supers charged with 800x, but even the Perfect dosent handle that powder well.
 
I don't shoot 223 in large quantities, and I'm usually more interested in accuracy, so I normally use my turret press as a single stage. I also normally use a Chargemaster for dumping powder. I do everything in batch mode.

I have the Autodrum measure and really like it, and have used it along with the auto-index feature of the turret to crank out some 223 plinking rounds before. In that case I used H4198 powder and 55gn pills. You have to use the rifle powder-thru die and a riser with the Autodrum.

Another option would be to use the powder-thru die with the funnel on top, and a Chargemaster to drop the powder. You would basically be using the auto-index to prep the case for powder, and use the Chargemaster to measure the powder during the time you are performing the other steps. Just be careful to isolate the Chargemaster from the reloading bench so the vibrations of the bench don't affect the Chargemaster.
 
Get the Lee Auto Drum. I used the Disc for many years. The Auto Drum is much more betterer!:)

Yes, I use it for 556/223

I have checked double check and triple check it with all kinds of powder and calibers. It is damn accurate.
 
I use auto drum with my LCT press. Varying drops are usually an adjustment error, Lee and Youtube have good videos. With .223, I usually measure on a scale to make sure, unless they are plinking rounds, not to the max end. Varget can be tricky, but with .223 a max load is just over 27 grains, and 27 pretty much fills the case.

Using the same powder, I can usually tell by looking whether it is off. For precision loads, I weigh each one as I go. Varget, as already stated, fills the case and attempting to cycle the turret shakes the case sufficiently to bounce some out. Varget is very bouncy and slips off itself with great ease.

.223 is usually done by me in stages. The brass is already sized, trimmed and primed ahead of time. So the turret drops powder, case is carefully removed, press cycled to seating die, case dumped into pan of Dillon scale, trickled up if necessary and go.

Russellc
 
For accuracy loads I dispense them on a lyman gen 6 powder dispenser. When I load for other peoples AR's I use the auto drum mounted on a universal rifle charging die.
 
Get the Lee Auto Drum. I used the Disc for many years. The Auto Drum is much more betterer!:)

Yes, I use it for 556/223

I have checked double check and triple check it with all kinds of powder and calibers. It is damn accurate.

I couldn't agree more. And hardly any traceable leaks, it set right.
 
Gold Pelican says he just wants to load decent range ammo right now. Match grade later.
Using the double disk kit with ball powders that get near you the powder charge you want
are perfectly good for his task and it is certainly the least up-front cost. Do it. It works.

When you eventually get a benchtop powder measure (of your choice) consider the
funnel setup mentioned in Post #2. I've used this for 223/5.56 match ammo for almost 20 years.
(At first I used a Redding BR drum type measure, then switched to RCBS Chargemaster.)
The simple Turret setup makes perfectly good ammo, just be aware of case length and trim.
The chambers in many AR rifles are tolerant of case length variation. Case length
doesn't need to be perfect but don't let it get too long for safety and consistency.
When you start loading match grade, remember that case prep must be perfect.


One word about 223 and the Lee Rifle Charging Die. When you disassemble the die you'll see
it has an inverted funnel intended to center the 223 case neck before the powder drops.
But it often has concentric rings leftover from manufacturer that catch on the lip of the case mouth
so half the powder drops past the case and onto the floor. If you see those rings, carefully
polish them out so the case mouth centers exactly on the drop hole to receive the powder.
This will make more sense when you get the Rifle Charging Die and disassemble it.
Word to the wise. You'll see.
 
Thanks ants. If I had gone the Chargemaster route I was planning on using a charging die/funnel on the turret.

I've got over 1000 headstamp sorted 223/5.56 cases I'm working through case prep on - ready to swage and trim once some new toys turn up in the mail. I usually prep and store ready to load primed cases for pistol - there's always a big batch of cases somewhere part way through the workflow waiting for spare time and the next step.

The auto-drum is a more justifiable expense at the moment, and might even get me started on 308 before I eventually splash out for the Chargemaster. At $36 for the auto-drum vs $12 for a double disk set, I can justify the auto-drum, and leave the pro disk for the pistol dies.

Learning to load bulk rifle with 223 is a step on the path to learning to load match grade 308 for me.
 
Like many guys here said, use a Lee rotary drop. Will work better for everything. And its cheaper than the old disk drops. There is too much farting around with the disks. With a rotary drop, you just dial it in.

Extruded powders are a challenge, no matter what drop you use. Id buy a drum for ball and short cut extruded. Then buy a powder funnel die from Hornady and use that with a Chargemaster for those powders. This is one of the best things Ive bought since I started reloading. I use it for load dev mostly, saves alot of head aches. Its case activated so you dont need a specific charging die for any case.

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When first loading 223 (all calibers for that matter) I used a charging tray and my RCBS Uniflow. Looked in every case with my readers and a flashlight.

For bolt action and no need for large amounts of ammo loading 100 rounds was kinda fun doing it the slow methodical way. You become ZEN and become part of the whole cartridge!:):)

Then got the Pro Auto Disc, still spot checked every other round until I "trusted" it.
Same with the Auto drum, The drum just works and works well,
 
I went thru the same process when I started 223. Was loading 30-30 on my LCT using the double disk kit, and bought the Autodrum when I started doing the 223. It meters consistently (Win748) for my plinking loads and it is easy to switch out for the 30-30 loads without messing around with the stacked discs. I also used this LCT setup on 9mm until I found a used SDB for those. I also used the Autodrum on my CH Autochamp for 45ACP with a Lee powder thru expanding die. It works slick and the smaller footprint helps clear the large bar across the top of the press.
 
I use the Redding BR3 powder measure with Varget, almost to the charge, then use a powder trickler to get it exact. You can hear Varget crunch pretty good in the measure, but the trickler doesn't care.

The results are accurate, and that's what matters. Of course if you're loading quantity this method will drive you crazy.
 
Thanks ants. If I had gone the Chargemaster route I was planning on using a charging die/funnel on the turret.

I've got over 1000 headstamp sorted 223/5.56 cases I'm working through case prep on - ready to swage and trim once some new toys turn up in the mail. I usually prep and store ready to load primed cases for pistol - there's always a big batch of cases somewhere part way through the workflow waiting for spare time and the next step.

The auto-drum is a more justifiable expense at the moment, and might even get me started on 308 before I eventually splash out for the Chargemaster. At $36 for the auto-drum vs $12 for a double disk set, I can justify the auto-drum, and leave the pro disk for the pistol dies.

Learning to load bulk rifle with 223 is a step on the path to learning to load match grade 308 for me.

I wouldnt trim until after sizing, they will"grow" a little bit...
Russellc
 
Yes, size first then trim.
I ended up buying a Worlds Finest Trimmer (WFT) for .223. Money well spent IMO, wish I would have bough it sooner.
I chuck it up in the drill and just run all the brass thru after sizing. What needs to get trimmed gets trimmed what doesn't, doesn't.
Before I used a Hornady lathe type trimmer worked well but sloowwwwwww.
 
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Yeah was been short with words. One of the toys is the pacesetter dies which includes the full length resizer.

Changed from swaging to reaming - Lowes had a deal today on a Bosch 18V tool I had been waiting to go on sale, so that was the Dillon budget blown. I bought a $7 3/8 steel countersink and have started lightly reaming to remove crimps.
 
I bought a $7 3/8 steel countersink and have started lightly reaming to remove crimps.
Same carbide countersink is at Harbor Freight Fools -- I mean Tools -- for $3.00. I use it faster than the Dillon tool. People will warn you not to ream all the way down to the bottom of the pocket or it won't hold a primer, but you're smarter than that. You'll do fine.
 
I have a single stage, a turret and a progressive press. I handload lots of handgun ammo but maybe 500 rounds of .223 and about the same amount of 30-06 per year. So when I'm loading bottleneck rifle I use my single stage RC because I first resize my brass, then trim/chamfer/de-burr and futz with the primer pocket. Then I use an RCBS bench mounted priming tool (which is really nice compared to the hand primer). At this point, all that is left to do is charge the cases and seat the bullets. In the past I had used my Dad's RCBS uniflow (circa 1968) then put the brass on the press and seat the bullet. I have since purchased an RCBS Charge Master, great tool btw.

I know that this is debatable but some say that the Uniflow is at least as good as the as Lee drum but I always felt funny trusting it without verification with stick powders so that was the reason for the charge master. I also used my Dad's old powder trickler so the CM actually has speed things up. In my mind unless you have a case and bullet feeder using a turret or progressive press for .223 really doesn't buy you much speed.

My Dad used to use a Lyman hand large rifle primer pocket uniformer on his military 30-06 brass. He had a lot more patience then me as I prefer the RCBS Trim Mate. He had a case trimmer, I don't know who made it and I don't know what ever became of it but I would never use the Lee thingy that attaches to a drill. I don't know anything about the worlds finest trimmer but if I didn't already have a Lyman trimmer I would be looking at that one.
 
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